Where does the time go!!!!!

It's been several months since we have updated our blog. It's not because we have been doing nothing. Quite the contrary, we have been unbelievably busy and time just got away from us!!!
After returning to CT from NY we caught a flight back to Naples and got right back into the routine of walking, biking, golf and spending time at the beach.
Our time in Naples was short lived as we hopped on a plane to Boulder CO to spend a week with Michelle, Flick and Ellie. Ellie turned 1 on September 13th and it is amazing to see how quickly she is changing. We were fortunate to be there as Ellie really started to walk more than a few steps at a time. She is really developing a great personality and is a lot of fun to play with.




Ellie went to Michelle's company Halloween party dressed up as a dinosaur.




We also went to the local pumpkin patch to pick out some Halloween pumpkins which Michelle and Donna did a great job of carving.












The weather in Boulder always amazes us as it went from the 70's to snowing within several days!!!!




As usual, it was difficult to leave but the warm weather of FL awaited us as we returned to Naples. Late fall in Naples is great with temps in the low 80's and less humidity.
Mike and Mary Lynch came down and we had a great time golfing, dining and spending a day at the beach with them. Golf was much more pleasant during this trip with them as the last time they were down we played in some pretty strong winds due to a tropical storm that came through!!!
The threat of hurricanes is always a part of the weather in FL during the summer and fall but this time it was New England that incurred the wrath of a hurricane. The impact of this storm was awful both in CT and RI and
the destruction was unprecedented. Our neighbors in CT called us to let us know that a tree fell on the power lines to our home cutting out power to our house. We are so fortunate to have great neighbors and Steve and Alyson made sure that our house was safe and that the power company was notified. We were scheduled to return to CT on 11/6 but decided we would delay our return if there was no power in our home. Fortunately, power was restored prior to the 6th and we were able to return to CT on that date.








Michelle and Flick were hosting Thanksgiving this year and the entire Parent family went to CO to celebrate the holiday. Christa wanted to spend some time in Boulder so her, Donna and Lucy (Christa's dog) drove out to Boulder right after we got back to CT. Fortunately the weather was great and they made the trip in 4 days. During my time in CT I tackled the job of re-doing our bathroom, one of several things to do to prepare our house to be sold.
Allie and I flew out to CO on the 19th. It was really nice having the family all together for Thanksgiving!!! The food was great and of course everyone had a lot of fun playing with Ellie.




























We went on a hike one day and of course Ellie had the best seat of us all.




When we last left her she was just starting to walk. Now that is all she does!!!!




We took her to the Butterfly Pavilion the last day we were there and she loved watching the butterflies fly all around her. Donna and I also got to hold a tarantula which was pretty cool.












As I write this blog I am back in Naples and Donna and Christa are in Indiana as they make their way back to CT.
Will try and keep this blog current!!
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Back to CT

Well it was back to CT and time for Donna & I to start focusing on the work that we need to do on our house to get it ready to sell. Some spackle, paint and work on the guest bathroom were our goals on this trip before heading back to FL in September. All things considered, we did pretty good but there still remains more work to get done.

Our time up north was not all work though.

After a week in CT we headed to Cape Cod where we spent 6 days with my cousin Steve, his wife Sandy and his son Mathew, wife Kristin and their 20 month old daughter Blair. Blair has changed so much and it was a lot of fun playing with her. The weather was good so we were able to get in a lot of outdoor activities such as jarts, walking, golfing and even a 22 mile bike ride on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. We even went swimming in the ocean which is somewhat colder than the 85 degree Gulf water that we have grown accustomed to in FL!!!!!








The day after we returned from the Cape we were off to Christina and Chris Benson's home for our 1st Lobsta Fest!!! The weather may have been rainy but the food was delicious and it was great to see our friends from Beacon again. Emma has also changed so much since we last saw her.
She is such a happy little girl!!






We also went out to dinner with Steve and Sandy to Illiano's where Sara Franklin (Christa's friend and our 4th daughter) works. We had a good meal and visit with friends before heading back to Naples.



Unfortunately tragedy struck with the passing of Bob Flickinger as a result of a bicycle accident in New York. The memorial service for Flick was a real tribute to a wonderful man who touched many lives. We consider ourselves to be so fortunate to be a part of the Flickinger family and to have been able to get to know Flick and share some memorable times with him. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Caryl, Jason, Mark, Tara and of course Brian and Michelle.



With the entire Flickinger and Parent families in New York, Caryl suggested that it would be a good time to baptize Ellie and we all agreed. Donna found a christening dress and the Pastor agreed to perform the service at the lake house. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful ceremony with family and friends in attendance. You could not help but feel that Flick was right there with us.












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Colorado

After a week in Canterbury it was once again time to pack our bags for our next trip!! This time we went to Boulder Colorado to visit Michelle, Flick, Ellie and of course Dozer.
The purpose of this trip was to help Michelle celebrate her 30th birthday!!!
We were picked up at the airport on Wednesday by Michelle and Ellie and after a nice lunch at Panera Bread we drove to their home and settled in.
It was pretty remarkable to see how much Ellie has changed since we last saw her in May. She is now crawling, pulling herself up, clapping and giving high-fives!! She also likes music and has some pretty cute dance "moves".








On Thursday we stayed with Ellie while Michelle and Flick went to work to contribute to our social security fund!!!
On Friday Christa, Allie & Chaz flew in to join in the birthday celebration. Took them to visit Michelle at work before heading to the house. Michelle made a lactose free chicken tetrazzini that we all enjoyed. It was great to get the family together in such a beautiful place!!!




On Saturday we packed up in the cars and took a trip to Roosevelt national Park where we took a 4 mile hike to Lake Isabelle. It was not too strenuous and the scenery along the way and at the lake was spectacular. Ellie had the best seat in the house being carried by Michelle. She even took a nap on the trip back down from the lake.








Saturday night was the birthday celebration and we all hopped on a bus right outside of Michelle and Flick's house and went to Pearl Street in downtown Boulder. No driving for this group that was ready to party!!!








Michelle chose a local restaurant called Pizzeria Locale for her birthday dinner. The food at this restaurant was excellent. We each ordered individual pizzas and had plenty of appetizers and wine. A complementary after dinner drink topped off our great experience at this restaurant!!!!




A short cab ride back to the house (a first for Chaz) and day one of the birthday celebration was over.
On Sunday morning Flick made us all a great breakfast of omelettes, bacon, hashbrowns and English muffins. What a great way to start off our morning!!
After breakfast, we took a ride up to Estes Park and a trip into the Rocky Mountain national Park where we drove the winding roads up to the summit. At approximately 13,000 feet in elevation the weather at the summit was in the 60s and rainy compared to the low 90s and sunny in Estes Park. We were able to see several Elk at the summit and on our trip back down. To say the mountains are awesome is an understatement. It is just too hard to describe the breathtaking nature of the scenery.




The birthday celebration continued that evening with Fajitas for dinner followed by a birthday cake and the first round of presents.








On Monday, Michelle's actual birthday, Christa had to leave to go back home.




Michelle, Allie, Chaz and Cliff played frisbee golf that afternoon at a local course, (there is no shortage of outdoor activities in Boulder) while Nona stayed with Ellie. That evening to continue with the celebration of Michelle's 30th we had her favorite grilled cheddar burgers topped with red onion jam.....delicious! A few more presents, some strawberry pie and the birthday celebration had ended!!!
On Tuesday it was time for Allie and Chaz to return home. After Flick and Michelle went to work we loaded up the car and headed for the airport.




After saying our goodbyes it was time for Nona, Pepere and Ellie to head to the mall for some shopping!!!!
Ellie picked out a nice outfit for herself and while Nona was paying for the outfit, Pepere and Ellie decided to do some bouncing on the mattresses!!!
We then took Ellie to visit Michelle and her coworkers at her office and went out to lunch. That night we took Michelle and Ellie out to a local Italian restaurant, Il Pastina, where we enjoyed a great home-cooked Italian meal. We brought home a meal for Flick, who is pursuing his MBA, and was in class online.
On Wednesday it was our turn to leave and after spending the day with Michelle and Ellie we said goodby and headed back to CT. A great trip as usual and a 30th birthday celebration that will hold fond memories for Michelle and the rest of the family.

Back to Canterbury

Our trip back to Canterbury was not an easy one. We arrived at Bradley at 11:45 on a flight that was supposed to arrive at 8:30!!! Our flight out of Atlanta was delayed because our plane came in late and then we spent 2 hours on the Tarmac due to weather in Atlanta. Finally got to bed around 2:00 am!!!
Very busy week getting things done after being away so long.
The highlight of the week was going wine tasting on Saturday with our friends from Beacon. Met the Benson's and the Lawlor's at Saltwater Farm Winery in Stonington where we did a wine tasting and caught up. From there it was off to Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington for a few more bottles of wine and some cheese and crackers.




















Dinner was at the Daniel Packer Inn in Mystic where we met Pam Alarie alias Mrs Tom Brady and her mom Lucille. We all had a great meal and a lot of laughs.




It was really great connecting with everyone and we are looking forward to Lobsta Fest at the Benson's in August!!
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